i 024767349a4cae9a (34 page)

There's something in my mind clicking. It's about insanity in marriage. There was a case some years ago-" He now shook his head as he said,

"I'll look it up. Yes, I'll look it up. There should be a law book here somewhere.

Anyway, you could go to the library. You don't happen to have any books on law, I suppose?"'

"Strangely, I do. I've got three; one dating back forty years or more. I bought a bundle of books at a sale in my student days, because among them was a medical book I couldn't afford at the time. Yes. Yes, I think there's three.

I'll look it up when I get back."

"Do that. Now that's a point. Do that, about insanity in marriage."

"And look, if you want to look around and find a place for your mother, I'll share your patients with Doctor Rees."

"Thanks very much. I'll be grateful. I was thinking "ut going to that new place that you talked about .

Brampton Hill."

Jh? Oh, there, you'll be out of luck. Yesterday I was visiting, the matron told me they had a g list."

were ai sorry about that, it sounded a good place."

"Where will you yourself go?"' "Not back to Mrs Pearson's, I can tell you that for every. Oh, I'll find somewhere, don't worry." "Well, until you do, there's a bed upstairs if you puld like it."

w,

I John did not give any answer to this invitation for moment; but then he said, "That's very kind of you, joctor. And if I can't get fixed up I'll be glad to

f" bar bar "Oh, you won't be putting me to any trouble. But

9Quite might have some restless nights, because when bar more not snoring, and I can snore up to high C, and

,bar nging-" he turned ow and grinned at John, a.jg, "I'm sober when I snore, but when I sing it's a Jtga that I've had my medicine."

John was forced to smile and he came back with, bar Well, if I have a dose of the same medicine, we Jould do a duet, because I'm told I have a good sritone voice."

'Oh, I doubt if that'll ever come about because lou could never carry my medicine. You're not built at way. But go on, and let me know how you get i By the way, have you any special visits to lake?"'

I.

j Three, but I can do them on the way.

"Good."

At this they parted and John started on his furnished-apartment hunting session...

By twelve o'clock he was feeling slightly desperate for his searching had been fruitless. And so, as he had been longing to do all morning, he turned the horse in the direction of Col Mount, and Helen.

It should happen that Daisy was visiting, and they were eating a light lunch, and when they pressed him to join them, he did not refuse as, other than a slice of toast, he had had nothing to eat all morning.

It was while they were sitting in the drawing-room taking their coffee that Daisy, looking hard at John, said, "Something on your mind more than usual?"'

He smiled at her as he said, "What makes you think that?"'

"Because you haven't had a decent shave today."

His hand went to his chin as his eyes widened and he said, "I've had a shave."

"Yes, here and there. There are two tufts below your ears that you missed"

As Helen burst out laughing, he too began to laugh; then he stopped abruptly saying, "It's a wonder I shaved at all; we had rather a busy night."

"What d'you mean?"' Helen was looking towards him now enquiringly.

He didn't answer her immediately, but put his cup down on a side-table, then said flatly, "We are having to leave the house. My mother's frightened to death. She only told me yesterday what had been happening. Beatrice has been scratching on the door in the dark as well as talking through it. Being upstairs I

The Obsession 45 fi aven't heard her. But I heard her all right last night

hen two bricks came through the windows. She bar (idn't know in which room I was sleeping, but she

tas taking no chances."

J "Oh, never! Never!" Helen was shaking her head

jiow. "She must be-" she stopped and he nodded at

bar bar er, saying, "Yes, going mad. She is mad, I'm sure,

ad has been for some time."

H Does Doctor Comwallis know this?"'

'allyes. Yes, of course. But, as he says, it would be difficult to prove; he doesn't agree with me. Anyjjay, I've been house-hunting again all morning. I've comIfeft my mother and Mrs Atkinson packing. I imag bar ined I would get my mother into the new nursing

Je on Brampton Hill; but Doctor

Comwallis tells

there are no vacancies. So I've been doing the ds again, but so far without success."

s Helen put her hand out towards him and was it to speak Daisy put in, "I know of two places

, ould have the choice of."

"Yes?"' John's voice was high.

bar "Yes." Daisy's head was bobbing now.

"Either at

1toy place, or here."

Yes." Helen and Daisy exchanged glances.

in Helen said, 'It'll be here. I would love to have

, John." I "Oh, no; no. That would be an imposition. Any-to Way, she must have someone to see to her needs and she would need at least two rooms." "Look how many rooms there are in this house, bar and all empty!

There are eight bedrooms upstairs."

i- "But she couldn't go upstairs." This came from

i.

Daisy. And Hele, her voice unusually loud, said, "I know that. I know that. But there is the games room that no-one uses now. It would make a lovely bedroom. And next to it there is the smoke-room, which would make a nice sitting-room.

And it leads on to the conservatory. She would be in nobody's way because the rooms are at the far end of the corridor. And I would love to have her here."

"Oh no." John shook his head now. "I don't want you giving up your time."

"Don't talk daft, man."

He turned sharply now to Daisy, who went on,

"She doesn't know what to do with her time. She's bored to death. I've tried to introduce her to committee work but the look on her face when sitting round a table is very off-putting to the others."

"Oh, Daisy, how can you say such a thing? I've kept that silly smile on my face for hours just to please you. And as instructed" comshe bounced her head towards Daisy now- "talked of things I know nothing whatever about, really."

"All right men; you do something that you do know something about, and instruct the staff to prepare those rooms; and I'll give them a hand. As for you, John, get on your way back to your mother and tell her it's all arranged, and to stop worrying. And by the way, where d'you propose to stay?"'

"Oh, Doctor Comwallis has offered me a bed until I get fixed up.

'Well. you can get fixed up in my place any day And hat would be nice. Think about it lad. Oh, y" to have a man all to myself. Look, tell old Corn-lis that you're fixed up. Tell him you've had a oposal, immoral, illicit, or whatever name you'd ft

*ence to put to it, but nevertheless, a proposal.

And, ,

i know' comshe nodded at him- "it isn't every in I'd make that proposal to."

John took two steps towards her and, taking her

inkled face between his hands, he said quietly, fl tell you something Daisy, and it's the truth: if

f heart wasn't already given somewhere else, I ild jump at the chance, and seriously.

As he saw the bright eyes glisten for a moment d a tinge of pink diffuse itself over her face, he

dded at her as if in confirmation of his words. And a, turning to Helen, who stood with a soft, know-smile on her face, he said, hanks, my dear.

tat sounds inadequate, but at this moment I cannot I you how relieved I am." bar And now she asked quietly, What time will I send , *

s carriage for her?"'

When he hesitated Daisy put in, It should be after :

rk in case Beatrice spots it. What d'you say, r

in?

"Yes, you're right, Daisy." bar

"Well, whatever time it goes, I'll come and..." be

"No, no. Please Helen." "He's right," said Daisy; "you want to keep out of to But I'll go along and give a hand." hank you, Daisy. Thank you." bar bar 'So, we'll say about seven o'clock?"' Yes, that'll be fine."

He looked from one to the er now and said, 'I... I don't know how to thank us. I was at my wits end when I came in and now

I feel-" He stopped and shook his head before muttering, "I'll...I'll be away then."

As he hurried from the room Helen went to follow him, but a gesture from Daisy stopped her. And when the door had closed on him Daisy said softly,

"He's better left alone, dear. He's at breaking point."

It was just after six when he returned for the second time to the annexe and was surprised to see his mother sitting fully dressed for outside, and she greeted him rather tartly. "Where on earth have you been? I've not seen you since this afternoon." And he answered her in a similar vein: "Mother, there are sick people out there."

As he sat down beside her the tears began to race down her cheeks, and she said, "Oh, my dear, I am sorry. In spite of the good news I have had a fearful dread on me all day."

"Now don't be silly, dear; our lives are about to change, and for the better."

She squeezed his hand, then said, "Have you had anything to eat?"'

"Woman! Woman! Listen to me! I told you earlier I'd lunched with Helen and Daisy. Now Daisy will soon be here. You're dressed, but are you all packed up?"'

"Yes; except for the few books Frances promised to bring from upstairs. Mrs Atkinson had to go to the dentist; she was nearly mad with the toothache; she was going to call in on you. You must have been out.

I suppose it's being by myself that's made me jittery."

I.

"That'll be Frances," he said, "about the books."

He hurried through the hall, unlocked the door and ire was Frances. She had a number of books in her ms and she said, "There's quite a few more, Doca, but I couldn't carry them. Anyway, she's gone that.

She must be going for a tramp; she took her 'alking stick with her."

He glanced quickly over the books and realised ey were mostly non-medical. He said,

"Does she ually go out at this time of night?"'

"Yes. Yes, Doctor, she goes for walks round

XggUt."

"Well, come on, I'll go up with you."

They were both now running along the passage, irough the main hall and up the stairs and to the (are room. Then he scooped a number of medical oks from a shelf, but in doing so, toppled the rest ito the floor. Then turning swiftly, he made for the or, saying, "Bring those, Frances, please."

At the top of the stairs he stopped with the feeling iat his heart was leaping through his ribs, so startled as he, for there, coming up towards him was Berice.

On the sight of him she paused and blinked her fes tightly as if she didn't believe what or whom ie was seeing. Then very slowly she took the rest the stairs, lifting each foot firmly from one tread greater-than the other.

When she was about to reach the landing he had to step back, and, like a schoolboy who had been caught in some thieving act, he almost stammered,

"I... I was collecting my... my medical books."

"Oh yes, your medical books. I've just come back to collect some chocolates; I was hungry." The smile on her face made him actually shudder. And when she went on, "Something said to me "Go back, Beatrice. You need energy." And chocolates make energy. Did you know that, John?

Chocolates make energy."

He nodded at her as he sidled round her to the top of the stairhead. He was aware that Frances was standing somewhere to the side of her. Then he turned abruptly and made to wak down the stairs. He had no way of supporting himself for his arms were holding the books.

Later, he could not recall if it was rances's scream he heard first or his own when the foot landed viciously into the middle of his back. He felt he had leaped into the air and that the books had taken wings, but he did not hear imself scream again as he hit the floor, nor the cry from Frances, nor the gasps of horror from Cook and Janie Bluett.

The screams had brought Catherine Falconer up out of her chair and grabbing her stick, before she hobbled from the annexe into the passage and towards the group of people shouting in the hall.

Frances was yellig, "You kicked him down, ma'am; you kicked him down," and Beatrice was wielding her stick and yelling back, "Shut up! you, before I bring mis across you. He fell!

He fell down the stairs."

Oh, my God!" The words were wenched from Urs aconer when she saw her son lying inert, one eg'under him, the other at an odd angle. And there as blood seeping from one trouser leg.

What have you done, woman? What have you lone?"'

Catherine Falconer was screaming at Beitrice.

"He fell! He fell! He's dead!"

"No! No! He's not dead, ma'am, he's breathing."

"Well, he won't be for long. Stay where you are, roman!" Beatrice now waved her stick towards anie Bluett.

"You're mad! You're mad, woman! Get a doctor. command you to get a doctor for my son."

"Command! she says. This is my house. My house,

4rs Falconer. Your son was trespassing.

And be areful what you say to me else you'll go the same iray. I've had enough of you. Yes, I have, behind our closed door. But it's all over. Oh, yes, it's all iver for both of you." Then she actually screamed at ances, who was aiming to slip past the foot of the tairs, I've told you, woman! You'll get this across out," and she brought the stick within an inch of ranees's face, causing the girl to scream again, You're mad! You're mad! And you kicked him. "out did; you kicked him down the stairs."

When the stick fell viciously across Frances's arm ie girl jumped back as she cried out, then hung on Janie Bluett.

"Oh, woman! Woman!" comMrs Falconer now was leading- "I beg you, send for the doctor,"

and in

a placating voic cook added her pleas, Mistress, yes; please, pleae, let someone go for the doctor."

Beatrice took heed of Cook's plea, but yelled at Mrs Falconer 'shut up! I've told you, or I'll knock you down ff yor rickety sticks," and she was about to advanc on Catherine alconer when the sound of someone scurrying behind her turned her about, and the sit of Mary Simmons flying down the passage seend to put her in a quandary for a moment. Then sh was yelling again, hat's it, old woman! Get don on